Norway College Program kids alerted to pavilion closing?

[declansdad]

Loosely based on a real place doesn't mean that Arendel isn't still a fictitious place. If Norway, a real place, can be replaced by a ficitious place in world ajowcaser, then any other country (that is no longer providing money/support) could find the same fate.

That is true but we were discussing the possible connections for each country based on what they currently are.

Regardless of a connection, WDW can do what ever it wants with the big shopping mall that is called the World Showcase. It may have pavilions based loosely on the culture of the host country and entertainment based on the country but when you really stand back and look, you see an area with beautiful views with shopping, drinking and eating.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I think it's funny how people come onto a Disney chatboard and think that people shouldn't be speculating about Disney.

They have a Rumors forum on this message board where this thread probably belongs.

 

[Angel Ariel]

but when you really stand back and look, you see an area with beautiful views with shopping, drinking and eating.

The same could be said for other areas of Disney parks too.

Look, I'm not against *adding* rides back.in WS, or even a Frozen overlay of maelstrom. But it can be done without completely overruning the rest of the pavilion. They did this with Mexico...yes, the ride was changed, but the entire pavilion is not themed to the Three Caballeros. All I am hoping for is that they show the same respect to the Norway pavilion. I have my doubts because of how insanely popular Frozen is.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I hated Maelstrom the only time I rode it. Thought it was disjointed and boring. (Although marginally better than the Mexico ride, which was fairly racist with its videos of Mexican peddlers beseeching you to buy their wares - haven't been on that one again, either, though it's been updated with Donald Duck and I presume lost the ruder parts of the ride.)

I'm guessing you haven't done a lot of travelling in Mexico.

I think it's funny how people come onto a Disney chatboard and think that people shouldn't be speculating about Disney.

I was thinking the same thing. Some people don't seem to realize it isn't a requirement to read every thread. If they don't like the direction of the discussion, it's easy to ignore it altogether. I would suggest checking out news sites, if you're looking for the facts & only the facts, but that won't work either.

I'm all for learning where your food comes from and being responsible in teaching children to respect the circle of life. I just find your suggestion a bit odd, making the animals cute and fun through Finding Nemo, then juxtaposing that with seafood restaurants! haha! That seems almost the reverse of teaching them the truth, instead traumatising them!

How is it any different than The Seas with Nemo pavilion in future world and then eating at Coral Reef (where they serve lots of seafood...)?

You beat me to it. I was going to say the same thing.

There are rumours that Illuminations will be changing as well.

That I could get behind. It's been years, since we've taken the time to see Illuminations.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Some people appear to have overlooked most of the attractions in WS (shows, movies, etc). The area is definitely about more than shopping, eating & drinking. Even if it weren't, it gives some people who may never be able to travel outside the country a small taste of a foreign land. How can that be a bad thing?

Look, I'm not against *adding* rides back.in WS, or even a Frozen overlay of maelstrom. But it can be done without completely overruning the rest of the pavilion. They did this with Mexico...yes, the ride was changed, but the entire pavilion is not themed to the Three Caballeros. All I am hoping for is that they show the same respect to the Norway pavilion.

I think most people would be fine with a Frozen overlay on the same level as the Three Caballeros change.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

I think most people would be fine with a Frozen overlay on the same level as the Three Caballeros change.

In terms of percentage of change, it would be unobtrusive. In terms of effort, I would be very disappointed. I find the Three Caballeros overlay to work, considering the spirit of the movies it's pulling from, but I found Disney's execution to be lazy and uninspired.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I think most people would be fine with a Frozen overlay on the same level as the Three Caballeros change.

I disagree. I think the real country of Norway would be offended that they are being pushed out of World Showcase for a fictional fairytale kingdom. I also believe that this kind of change on the scope everyone is thinking would make World Showcase a joke...seriously. a joke.

"come learn about the beauty of Mexico, Canada, and a random fictional village based on a fad from 2013. Oh, and remember Norway? Yeah, we kicked them out of our little U.N."

 

[Angel Ariel]

I disagree. I think the real country of Norway would be offended that they are being pushed out of World Showcase for a fictional fairytale kingdom. I also believe that this kind of change on the scope everyone is thinking would make World Showcase a joke...seriously. a joke.

"come learn about the beauty of Mexico, Canada, and a random fictional village based on a fad from 2013. Oh, and remember Norway? Yeah, we kicked them out of our little U.N."

Was Mexico "pushed out of World Showcase" when they added 3 Caballeros to the ride? No.....the rest of the pavilion stayed true to Mexico.

That's what the PP and I are saying...that an overlay of similar scope (not necessarily the same execution, but scope) of Frozen onto Maelstrom would be Ok - *as long as* the rest of the pavilion remains intact and true to Norway, *That* would not be "pushing Norway out of WS.". Retheming the majority of the pavilion to Frozen/Arendel would be something different, and would, IMO, be pushing Norway out.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Was Mexico "pushed out of World Showcase" when they added 3 Caballeros to the ride? No.....the rest of the pavilion stayed true to Mexico.

That's what the PP and I are saying...that an overlay of similar scope (not necessarily the same execution, but scope) of Frozen onto Maelstrom would be Ok - *as long as* the rest of the pavilion remains intact and true to Norway, *That* would not be "pushing Norway out of WS.". Retheming the majority of the pavilion to Frozen/Arendel would be something different, and would, IMO, be pushing Norway out.

As I said before in my previous post, I have no problem with them adding to/plussing the ride. I was referring to the entire retheming of the pavilion. A shutdown of the entire country would mean more than just retheming the ride.

 

[Angel Ariel]

As I said before in my previous post, I have no problem with them adding to/plussing the ride. I was referring to the entire retheming of the pavilion. A shutdown of the entire country would mean more than just retheming the ride.

I thought the PP and I were pretty clear that we were against that as well? That was our entire point...that we disagreed with retheming the entire country, but would be OK with an overlay like 3 Caballeros....

It sounds like that is how you feel as well...which is why I'm confused as to this exchange:

I think most people would be fine with a Frozen overlay on the same level as the Three Caballeros change.

I disagree. I think the real country of Norway would be offended that they are being pushed out of World Showcase for a fictional fairytale kingdom. I also believe that this kind of change on the scope everyone is thinking would make World Showcase a joke...seriously. a joke.

"come learn about the beauty of Mexico, Canada, and a random fictional village based on a fad from 2013. Oh, and remember Norway? Yeah, we kicked them out of our little U.N."

The first quote was specifically talking about a small overlay, on the level as Mexico's...not a full pavilion retheming...which is sounds like you're now saying you're OK with...so what about her post are you disagreeing with?

 

[JRawkSteady]

lol, I apologize. I thought you were arguing a completely different point. But I still stand by my what I said (and I assume you agree with me) in regards to the whole country being changed over. But, this is most likely (and hopefully) just a vicious rumor anyway. hehe

 

[Travelgrrl]

Originally Posted by Travelgrrl:
I hated Maelstrom the only time I rode it. Thought it was disjointed and boring. (Although marginally better than the Mexico ride, which was fairly racist with its videos of Mexican peddlers beseeching you to buy their wares - haven't been on that one again, either, though it's been updated with Donald Duck and I presume lost the ruder parts of the ride.)

I'm guessing you haven't done a lot of travelling in Mexico.

Actually, I have been to Mexico a lot, along with real Italy, real France, England, Canada, etc. And yeah, there are aggressive peddlers in Mexico (as in plenty of other places). But is that what Disney should be highlighting in a ride and pavilion that presumably is celebrating the best of their country?

There are xenophobic aspects attributed to just about every country (The French are snobbish, the English are cold, the Germans are well, Nazis) which are only as true as some people's limited experience or worldview. France doesn't have an attraction featuring rude waiters, do they? (Well, I haven't dined at Le Cellier, but I assume they're Disney Nice!)

It just used to gall me, that poor old Mexico had that as part of their ride. Just re-emphasizing stereotypes about dishonest wetbacks, you know?

I assume that part's gone, and adios, no tears from me.

 

[Angel Ariel]

lol, I apologize. I thought you were arguing a completely different point. But I still stand by my what I said (and I assume you agree with me) in regards to the whole country being changed over. But, this is most likely (and hopefully) just a vicious rumor anyway. hehe

It's all good I was just really confused! Yes, I definitely agree that the whole country being changed would *not* be good. I am Norwegian by heritage (still have distant family that lives there), so keeping the pavilion Norway and not Arendel is important to me!

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

Originally Posted by Travelgrrl:



There are xenophobic aspects attributed to just about every country (The French are snobbish, the English are cold, the Germans are well, Nazis) which are only as true as some people's limited experience or worldview. France doesn't have an attraction featuring rude waiters, do they? (Well, I haven't dined at Le Cellier, but I assume they're Disney Nice!)

La Cellier is not French, it is Canadian. So no they do not have rude waiters, Sorry.

 

[Travelgrrl]

Hahaha, I KNEW I should have looked up the fancy schmancy French restaurant in EPCOT instead of guessing!

Actual waiters I've had in France have been nice IRL.

 

[JimmyV]

Until Universal starts eating away at WDW profits nothing will get changed at any of the parks.

I don't see it that way. I doubt that Imagineers sit around a table in a conference room and say: "Universal isn't capturing any of our attendance or dollars, so let's do Frozen on the cheap and slap a new coat of paint on the Norway pavilion. But if Universal were eating away at our profits, we would do it up right at DHS." I don't think that Disney is that reactive. They have to think too far into the future to react to something that happened at Universal last week. People seem to think that Disney and Universal play a current game of "Spy vs. Spy" (for the Mad Magazine fans out there.) In reality, each company has to do what is best for itself independent of what is going on up or down I-4. Besides, WDW isn't going to fight HP with Frozen. Different crowd. And above all else, Universal's attendance is increasing by leaps and bounds. Either that is cutting into Disney park days or people are going to WDW just as much as before but people are adding on days for visiting Universal. Either scenario cuts into days that could have been Disney days, so even under your assumption, it would be time for Disney to react.

 

[ttintagel]

If they're going to keep putting non-edutainment stuff in EPCOT, I'd love to see them turn one of the many empty buildings they have sitting around into a pavilion especially designed for the purpose of quickly cramming incongruous things into an appropriate space. If they don't want to use one of those, then build a new, more generic one. It could be designed to be quickly themed and then adjusted later.

 

[larryz]

If Disney can turn Norway into Arendel then they can pretty much do whatever they want to anything.

Adding Remy to Les Chefs didn't turn France into Pixarland...

 

[larryz]

INTERVENTION!!

Gotta have some music to go with that...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Originally Posted by Travelgrrl:
I hated Maelstrom the only time I rode it. Thought it was disjointed and boring. (Although marginally better than the Mexico ride, which was fairly racist with its videos of Mexican peddlers beseeching you to buy their wares - haven't been on that one again, either, though it's been updated with Donald Duck and I presume lost the ruder parts of the ride.)



Actually, I have been to Mexico a lot, along with real Italy, real France, England, Canada, etc. And yeah, there are aggressive peddlers in Mexico (as in plenty of other places). But is that what Disney should be highlighting in a ride and pavilion that presumably is celebrating the best of their country?

There are xenophobic aspects attributed to just about every country (The French are snobbish, the English are cold, the Germans are well, Nazis) which are only as true as some people's limited experience or worldview. France doesn't have an attraction featuring rude waiters, do they? (Well, I haven't dined at Le Cellier, but I assume they're Disney Nice!)

It just used to gall me, that poor old Mexico had that as part of their ride. Just re-emphasizing stereotypes about dishonest wetbacks, you know?

I assume that part's gone, and adios, no tears from me.

There have been reviews that French waiters at Chefs de France fit the stereotype. Our experience was take it or leave it. Not rude or snobbish, but nothing outstanding. Seemed normal to me.

As far as the peddlers. In my travel experience to tourist areas near cruise Port, that can and does happen. It has been a while, so maybe things have changed. But it reminded me of what happens in the Bahamas. I never thought people
Were dishonest to try and get me to buy something. I just assume they were trying to make money so that they could have a life. Why would you assume it portrays dishonesty?


When we went to England--I didn't find the English cold at all. But I also have relatives who live there. Why would you say they are "cold"?

We stayed on a residential section of Paris and found the French very nice. When we went to Disneyland Paris, I found the French people who worked there not as nice--which rather surprised me. (We went because we traveled with a 1 and 3 year old and has already taken them to London, Nottingham, Cardiff in Wales, Versailles, and the Louvre. We figured a day to the mouse was warranted.)

For some own calling out an attraction--I find your comments interesting.